Dania Official`s Past Spurs Call For Inquiry

DANIA — The revelation that a resident who serves on three city boards once was convicted of murder has prompted one city commissioner to call for an investigation of decisions made by those boards.

And a majority of city commissioners said Sunday they would remove John Vollmann Jr. from those boards if the law requires it.

City Commissioner Howard Hirsch said he will request a probe into all ``important decisions`` made by the boards on which Vollmann has served during the past five years. Hirsch said he wants to make sure ``no special favors were granted.``

Vollmann, 47, is chairman of the city`s Code Enforcement Board, vice chairman of the Fire and Police Pension Board and chairman of the Unsafe Structures Board.

Vollmann said he holds the positions legally because he never has been convicted of a felony in the United States. But a representative of the Florida Attorney General`s Office said even felons convicted in another country automatically lose certain rights in this state -- including the right to hold public office -- unless those rights are restored through a formal procedure.

Vollman, a native of Maine, disclosed Friday that he had been convicted in the 1958 stabbing murder of a 16-year-old girl in New Brunswick, Canada. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Vollmann served 18 years in Canadian prisons before being released on parole for good behavior and deported to the United States, said John Wilson, regional manager of Case Preparation for the Ontario Divison of the National Parole Board.

Dania Vice Mayor Chester Byrd and commissioners Jean Cook and C.K. ``Mac`` McElyea said they will look into the matter next week.

``This could be a bunch of hogwash. I don`t know,`` McElyea said. ``I have no ax to grind with John Vollmann, but I`m not going to violate the law -- that`s the oath I took to be a commissioner.``

Said Byrd: ``If it`s true, then I`m going to call for his removal from office.``

Vollmann made public his criminal past in an attempt to thwart what he claims was a retaliatory investigation into his background. He said the background check was being done by those who opposed his suggestion that city commissioners use an independent service to evaluate the top five candidates for city police chief.

Vollmann said he had discussed his criminal history with a few city officials, including former City Manager Richard Marant and Cook.

Cook, however, adamantly denied that such a discussion ever took place.

McElyea said he knew nothing about Vollmann`s criminal background before the recent publicity.

Vollmann said he has been a civic-minded, law-abiding citizen who is working as an instructor, researcher and consultant in the criminal justice field.

He said he has been operating under advice from immigration and law enforcement officials in Maine that he never lost his rights to hold public office, vote or buy firearms because he never was convicted of a felony in the United States.

As for Hirsch`s suggestion to investigate decisions of boards on which he served, Vollmann said: ``He can do anything he wants. I have nothing to hide.``

Vollmann, who has lived in Dania since the late 70s, said he has taken an active role in the city because he enjoys being involved.